The Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi will host the much-anticipated showdown between Ghanaian football giants Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko on Sunday, December 15, 2024.
The clash comes at a critical juncture for both teams. Kotoko, who started the season brightly with four wins from seven games, have since stumbled with four straight losses, dropping to seventh place with 18 points. Meanwhile, Hearts of Oak have found their stride after a slow start, securing three consecutive victories to sit in sixth, just a point above their rivals.
Hearts of Oak head coach Aboubakar Ouattara, in an exclusive interview with 3Sports, stressed the importance of the fixture, calling it more than just a derby.
“The importance of this game is the three points. We need those points, Kotoko also need it, and now everything depends on the players. I think the difference can be just small, small details, and I pray to God to get those details in my favour,” Ouattara remarked.
Acknowledging the intensity of the rivalry, Ouattara highlighted his team’s hunger to climb higher on the league table. “It is a tough match; both teams are desperate. We need the points because we believe we don’t deserve our current position. We want to go higher, so we need to win the matches,” he added.
Hearts will also be looking to end a dismal run against Kotoko, having suffered defeats in both league meetings and the Democracy Cup last season. Sunday’s clash offers an opportunity for redemption as the Phobians aim to consolidate their form and leap further up the standings.
